Electric switch



Dec. 9', 1924. 1,519,044

I H. T. PAISTE I ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 31, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ewart/i7:

Dec. 1924- 1,519,044

H. T. PAISTE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 31, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. T. PAISTE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 31, 192.0 5 Sheets-Sheet I/IIII/IIIIIIIII/ III H. T. PAISTE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 31, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. T. PAISTE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 31, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiwe bit J ke/92%;

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. PAISTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB. TO K. T. PAISTE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application fiIed JuIy 81, 1920. Serial No. 400,35.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY T. PAIs'rE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented the Electric Switch of which the following is a specification. I

One object of my invention is to provide an electric switch involving a novel construction and arrangement of parts, permittin the ready insertion and removal of fuse p ugs; the invention more especially contemplating such a disposition of the elements as will insure current being cut off from the exposed parts of the device when these are accessible.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fused switch of the enclosed type, whose construction shall be such that the act of opening the switch container will necessaril open the switch and at the same time out o the fuse terminals from the live current conductors or terminals so that the fuse or fuses may be safely removed ;the arrangement of the parts being such as to insure that the circuit through the switch cannot be completed until the fuses with their terminals and the conducting parts of the switch have been brought to such positions that they are no longer accessible.

I further desire to provide an electric switch which shall include a container ofnovel form havinga lid or cover made in a plurality of parts respectively carrying stationary and movable contacts so associated that opening of the container necessarily opens the switch, and closing of the c ontainer renders the parts of the switch inaccessible without completing the circuit therethrough,--such completion of the circuit or closure of the switch being accom-. plished by an operator at any time desired after the closure.

My invention is also designed to provide an electric switch whose movable element s and their associated parts ble without exposing the main portions of the switch.' I 4 These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1, is a perspective view illustratmg the enclosing casing of my switch;

Figs. 2 and 3, are longitudinal vertical sections illustrating the movable switch member in its closed and open positions respectively;

. 4, is a section similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the casing cover in its open position;

Fig. 5, is an inverted plan of the cover and parts carried thereby;

Fig. 6, is a plan of the insulating blocks carried by the cover with certain of the parts associated therewith;

Fig. 7, is a vertical section on the line 77, Fig. 5;

' Fig. 8, is a fragmentary, side elevation illustrating the cover with the parts in the positions occupied when it is desired to expose the switch terminals;

Fig. 9, is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10, is a fragmentary perspective I view illustrating a detail of the casing and cover.

In the above drawings, 1 represents a sheet metal box having a cover made in three parts, 2, 3 and 4, to which the two first are connected by a hinge 5, and the two last are likewise connected by hinges 6. Said cover is downwardly flanged, and the intermediate section 3 thereof is normally immovably fixed to the bod 1 by a pair of screws 7 extendin throug its opposite flanges into the si es of said bod The rear section 4 is also normally fixe to the body so as to be immovably held by'a pair of pressed-out tongues 8 projecting from its rear flange through openings 9 in the back or rear s1 e of said body. The arrangement is such, I

however, that when the screws 7 are removed, as shown in Fig. 8, and the front section 2 of the cover raised, said cover as a whole ma be moved rearwardl on the body 1 unti the tongues 8 are withdrawn from their holes 9, when the rear cover section 4' may be swung up. With the tongues 8 entered in their holes 9 and the screws 7 rigidly holding the section 3 to the body, the front cover section 2 is normally held in its closed position by spring tongue 10 fas tened to the front of the body and projecting through a slot in said cover section,- there being a projection on said tongue extending over the top of the cover section 2 so as to hold it closed.

Mounted on the intermediate cover sectibn 3 and projecting downwardly into the body of the casing 1, is a terminal block 11 of insulating material, rigidly held in place by screws 12 or other suitable means and extending for practically the entire width .of said box. In the present instance, this block is provided with four wells or deep recesses 13 extending upwardly from its under side, and in each of these is a pair of spring clips 14. Each of these latter has a terminal 16 projecting rearwardly from the bottom of its particular recess into a chamber 15 formed in the up r face of a por tion 17 of said block which projects under the third cover section 4, and with the construction shown, there are four of these terminal projections 16, each havin a conductor-clamping screw 18 exposed w en said cover section 4 1s swung upwardly to permit of the attachment or disconnection of a conductor.

The front wall of each of the recesses 13 is formed with a narrow slot 19 lying in the plane of the space between its adjacent switch clips 14 to permit of the entrance thereto of switch blades 20 or 21, which project downwardly and rearwardly from a block 23 of insulating material fixed to the front cover section 2 by a series of screws 22, and extending like the terminal block 11, for practically the full width of the casing and cover. At the outer forward corners of this block are formed two integral downwardly projecting hollow cylindrical structures 24, in each of which is mounted a threaded shell 25 inwardl flanged at its lower end so as to electrica ly engage the forward end of a metal plate or bar 26 extending rearwardly to and integrally connected with one of the switch blades 20. The end or head of this plate 26 engaged by the flange of the threaded shell 25, is. centrally recessed to fit over an integral rojection of the block, and the shell is held against this part of the said plate by a screw 27 having a washer 28 under its head, which in turn acts on an insulatin washer 29 to clamp the parts together. he end of said screw enters a plate or bar 30 set in a suitable recess in the top face of the block 23 and. having electrically connected toit a pair of clips 31, to which is pivoted the switch blade 21. These two latter switch blades lie between the two blades 20, which are rigidly fixed to and necessarily move with the block 23 and main portion 2 of the cover, although their shape is generally similar to that of said outer blades. They are, however,-rigidly connected by a cross bar 32 of insulating material, which is centrally slotted for the reception of an arm or bar 33 pivoted on a s indle 34 rotatably mounted 1n a suitable earing preferably provided by a plate 35 held by a screw 36 to the under side of the cover section 2. 4

Also pivoted to this same spindle is an operating armor handle 37, which adjacent a projecting portion 38 of the bar or arm 33, has a pin 39 formed to enter a slot 40 in said portion so that the arm 33 and operating handle 37 have a certain limited amount of relative movement, although aside from this being operatively connected together.

A sprin 41 extends between the arm or bar 33 an the downwardly rojecting end of a plate 42 so thatthroug said bar the two blades 21 are at all times urged toward a position distant from their co-operating clips 14. 1

By the above described arrangement of parts, it will be understood that the screws 7 normally hold the cover ,parts 3 and 4 rigidly to the body of the box, and if the section 2 be in its closed position, it is pos sible by means of the handle or operating member 37 to so swing the blades 21 on their pivots as to cause them to engage their co-orperating clips 14. If the retainingcatc 10 be so moved as to release the cover section 2 and the latter be swung upwardly on its hinge, it necessarily carries with it the rigidly attached block 23 and the parts carried thereby, so that the blades 20 as well as the blades 21 are withdrawn from engagement with their clips 14, so that said blades as well as all parts of the fuse receptacles comprised by the shells 25 and screws 27 are out off from the live portions of the switch comprised by the clips 14 and the terminals 16.

As the cover section 2 with its attached parts is swung up, the spring 41 acts through the bar 33 on the blades 21, so that as soon as these clear their cli s 14, the are swung ,on their pivots toward the insu ating structures 24 In which are mounted the shells 25. It is now possible to insert fuse plugs in the receptacles, and obviously all danger of injury from accidental blowing of said fuses or unintentional contact with'live parts of the switch is absolutely prevented, since as above noted, all metallic parts on the block 23 are dead and access to the parts 14 and 16 is quite an im ossibility owing to the formation of the b ock 11.

If it now be desired to put the switch into service, the cover section 2 is swung to its closed position and the blades 20 are thereupon brought into electrical engagement with their co-operating clips 14.

-thereof by a transverse retainin 21 are caused to engage their clips 14, and

current can flow through the switch.

As before noted, however, the act of opening the cover section amt only frees the two pairs of blades 20 and 21 from their clips 14, but also permits the spring 41 to move the blades 21 relatively to the other blades to their extreme open positions, from which it is necessary to move them by hand after the cover has again been closed, in order to complete the circuit through the switch.

For the purpose of connecting line conductors to the terminals 16, the screws 7 are removed, and the three connected cover sections 2, 3 and 4, with their attached parts are moved slightly to the rear for a distance sufiicient to cause the tongues 8 to be moved out of their holes 9, whereupon the section 4 may be swung upwardly so that access may be had to the clampingscrews and terminals 16.

Obviously openings may be provided in the front and rear walls of the casing body 1 or! in any other suitable portions of the latter, to provide for the entrance of electrical conductors, and if it is desired, I may confine any conductors passing through or into the casing to the side bottom portions bar as shown, so as to leave a clear space in and adjacent the central part ofsaid casing in which the blades 21 and 20 may safely be moved. g l

I claim 1. The combination of a casing having a cover including a fixed and'a movable part; with an electrical switch in the casing having its fixed and movable contacts mounted respectively on the fixed and the movable parts of the cover.

2. The comb'nation of a casing having a movable cover portion; a switch in the easing having at least two vmovable members on said movable cover portion and also having relatively fixed contact members; a fuse receptacle mounted on the'coverportion and having one terminal connected to the movable-contact member and the other terminal connected to the relatively fixed contact member; and meansfor moving the movable members,

3. The combination of a casinghaving a movable cover portion; a switch in the casing having at least two movable members.

mounted on said cover portion; with means for automatically moving one of said mem-- bers independently of the other when said cover is opened.

. operating 4. The combination of a casing having a movable cover portion; a switch in the casing having two fixed contacts and two movable contacts, of which the latter are mounted on the cover portion and are movable independently of each other; with means tending to maintain one of said movable contacts in a osition disengaged from its coxed contact.

5. The combination of a casing having a movable cover portion; a switch in the casing having two fixed members and two pivotally movable members, of which the latter are mounted on the cover portion; with a spring tending to pivotally move one of said movable members into and retain it in a position disengaged from its cooperating fixed member.

6. The combination of a casinghaving amovable cover portion; a switch in the easing having two fixed members and. two pivotally movable members, of which the latter are mounted on the cover portion; a spring tending to pivotally move one of said movable membel's into andretain it in a position disengaged from its co-operating fixed member; and a fuse receptacle on the cover portion having" its terminals respectively connected to said movable switch members.

7. The combination of a casing having a movable cover portion; a switch having at least two contactsfixedly mounted within said caslng; a barrier of insulating material interposed between said fixed contacts and' the opening closed by the cover; movable contacts mounted 'on the cover and formed to engage said fixed contacts only when the cover is closed; with means for moving the of said movable contacts at will inde- 'pendently of the other.

8. The combination of a casing having a movable cover portion; a switch having at least two contacts fixedly mounted within said casing; a barrier of insulating material interposed between said fixed contacts and the opening closed by the cover;'movable contacts mounted on the cover and formed to engage said fixed contacts only when the cover is closed; means for moving one 01' said fixed contacts at willindependently of the other; and means operative to automaticall'y move said independent contact to its open osition when the cover is opened.

9.-- he combination of a casing having a movable cover portion; a switch having at said casin a barrier of insulating material ,interpose between said fixed contacts and ically move said independent contact to its least two contacts fixedly mounted withinthird part is moved to its third open position when the cover is o ened; and a fuse receptacle on the cover iaving its terminals respectively connected to said movable contacts.

10. The combination of a casing having a cover removablyconnected thereto and includin a normally fixed and a normally movable portion; an electrical switch in the casing having its fixed and movable contacts mounted on the fixed and movable parts of the cover respectively; mounted on thecover in circuit with said contacts when the cover is closed.

11. The combination of a casing having a cover made in a plurality of parts; relatively fixed switch contacts mounted onone of said cover parts; terminals connected to said contacts and positioned to be exposed when a second one of said cover parts is opened; and movable switch members mounted on a third cover part in ositions to be disen: gaged from the fixe contacts when said open position.

12. The combination of a casing having a cover made in a plurality of parts; relatively fixed switch contacts mounted on one of sad cover parts; terminals connected to' said contacts and positioned to be exposed when a second one of said cover parts is opened; movable switch members mounted on a third cover part in positions to be disengaged from the fixed contacts when said part is moved to its open position; with means for moving one of said movable switch contacts independently of the other.

13. The combination of a casing having a cover made in. relatively fixed switch contacts mounted on one of said cover parts; relatively movable contacts mounted on the other cover part; and terminals also on one of said cover parts, connected to said contacts and positioned to be exposed when a second one of said cover parts is opened.

14. The combination of a casing having a cover made in a plurality of parts; relatively fixed switch contacts mounted on one of said cover parts; terminals connected to said contacts and positioned to be exposed when a second one of said cover parts is opened; movable switch members mounted on a third cover part in osit-ions to be disengaged from the fixe contacts when said third part is moved to its open position;

with automatic means for moving one of said and a fuse receptacle a plurality of movable parts;

movable switch contacts to its open position when the cover is o ned.

15. The combination of a casing having a cover made in a plurality of parts; hinges movably connecting said parts; two'devices ,forrespectively holding two of the cover parts immovably to the casing body; a switch having fixed contacts carried by one of said cover parts; terminals connected to said contacts and positioned to be exposed when the second of said cover parts is opened; and movable switch contacts carried by the third cover part in positions to be disengaged from the fixed contacts when said third cover part is opened.

16; The combination of a casing having a cover including a movable part; a barrier mounted on the fixed part of the cover and having a series of slots therein; a series of fixed contacts mounted behind the barrier and protected thereby when the cover is open; ed on the movable part of the cover and positioned to extend through the slots of the barrier into engagement with the fixed contacts when the cover is closed; with means for moving certainof said movable contacts independently of the others out of engagement with the fixed contacts.

17. The combination of a' casing having a cover including a movable part; a barrier mounted on the fixed part of the cover and a series of movable contacts mount- 1 having a series of slots therein; a series of fixed contacts mounted behind the barrier and protected thereby when the cover is open; with a series of movable contacts mounted on the movable part of the cover and positioned to extend through the slots of the barrier into engagement with the fixed contacts when the cover is closed, certain of the movable contacts being operative independently of the others.

'18. The combination of a casin a barrier therein; a series of fixed switch c'ontacts having'terminals protected by said barrier; a cover made in a plurality of sections of which one is positioned to expose said terminals when open; movable switch contactscarried by another section of the coverin position to engage said fixed contacts only when the cover is closed; with means independent of the cover for actuating said movable contacts.

HENRY T. PAISTE. 

